More Than 600 Rescued from Stranded Missouri Showboat

More than 600 passengers and crew members of a Branson, Mo., showboat are safely off the vessel after spending the night aboard the boat, which became grounded because of high winds and choppy water.

The Branson Belle ran aground at Poverty Point on Table Rock Lake.

The cruise began having problems with propulsion around 6 p.m. on Saturday, said Lisa Rau, a publicist for Herschend Family Entertainment, which owns the boat. A tugboat was called to help, but wind picked up and the boat ran aground, Rau said.

At 11 p.m., officials decided it was best to let winds calm before trying to move the boat to where the passengers could disembark. About 567 passengers and 76 crew members were on board.

"The safest thing to do is leave it where it is at," Sgt. Dan Bracker, spokesman for the Highway Patrol, said on Saturday.

Bracker speculated it could be 6 a.m. Sunday before the vessel can be moved.

No injuries were reported, and Rau said all the passengers were dry.

She said three people on board had medical conditions unrelated to the grounding. An emergency medical technician was on board to help, Rau said.